PHILADELPHIA, PA — One of the region’s most accomplished youth music organizations is opening its doors to the next generation of singers, as the Philadelphia Youth Choral Ensembles announced auditions beginning in January 2026 for its Commonwealth Youth Choir, a program with a decades-long legacy and a global performance footprint.
The Commonwealth Youth Choir, an all-gender, mixed-voice ensemble serving children and teens ages 6 through 18, will hold in-person auditions throughout January, starting January 6 and 7, with a final deadline of January 31. Auditions will take place at the Presbyterian Church of Chestnut Hill and are designed to be accessible, requiring no prior music training or preparation.
Founded in 2001 and restructured in 2024 through the unification of the Keystone State Boychoir and the Pennsylvania Girlchoir, the Commonwealth Youth Choir now includes 160 young singers from across the Greater Philadelphia region. The program emphasizes musical development alongside confidence-building, teamwork, and self-expression.
Over more than two decades, the choir has performed on all seven continents for audiences that have included popes, presidents, and Nobel Prize laureates, while also appearing at major local venues such as the Kimmel Center for the Performing Arts and the Academy of Music. Continuing that international tradition, the choir is scheduled to tour South Korea in the summer of 2026.
The program is structured to grow with each singer, offering four age- and skill-based ensembles ranging from Prelude, a training choir for beginning singers, to Cadenza, a premier high school ensemble that includes advanced chamber performance opportunities. Weekly rehearsals are led by professional music educators and are supplemented by included musicianship and music theory instruction.
Michelle Frank, executive director of the Philadelphia Youth Choral Ensembles, said the program is designed to support both beginners and experienced performers in a welcoming environment that encourages artistic growth and lasting connections.
Tuition for the remainder of the 2025–26 season ranges from $625 to $775 depending on ensemble level, with monthly payment plans and financial aid available. Families whose children are accepted following auditions will receive enrollment instructions by email.
Additional information about audition scheduling and the Commonwealth Youth Choir is available through the organization’s website.
For the latest news on everything happening in Chester County and the surrounding area, be sure to follow MyChesCo on Google News and MSN.